Common causes of musculoskeletal dysfunction and pain
Throughout life the body is meant to move, stretch and exercise constantly. Sedentary life style and occupational faulty sustained posture (esp long hours at a computer), will lead to adaptive shortening of those muscles and ligaments held in a relaxed (shortened) and contracted position, whereas those muscles opposite become weakened, leading to muscular imbalance, causing chronic stress and strain with subsequent pain and disability.
a) Hold / relax stretches. b) Muscle energy and Nordic techniques. c) Yoga type postural stretches and correction d) Exercises + home program. e) Cervical and lumbar spinal traction ( computerised mechanical or manual). | |
Because of shortened hip flexors (iliopsoas), which have their origin in the lumbar spine and pelvis INSERT IGNORE INTO hip joints, cause low back strain and disability.
Tight hamstrings the iliotibial band (ITB) and eg piriformis (hip abductor), weak abdominals and overactive back extensors produce the same effect of muscular imbalance and subsequent low back pain.
May follow sustained forward head posture, (A.K.A poking chin) with forward rolled (anterior) shoulders and slumped upper thoracic spine cause pain in these areas and if the upper three cervical vertebrae
(C1 to C3) become dysfunctional "cervico-genic headaches" may ensue (often called tension headaches) these headaches may affect any part of the head including "retro-orbital" pain (ie pain behind one or both eyes), and auditory disturbance (ringing, singing or buzzing in the ears,) disorientation, dizziness and diminished concern for others. | |
Is your headache really a neck ache?
For many people, feelings of pain and tension start at the top of the neck. As the pain worsens, it may spread to the back of the head, the temples, forehead or behind the eyes. Moving the neck or bending forward for a long time tends to make it worse. This happens because the nerves in the upper part of your neck are connected to the nerves in your head and face. So a disorder of the upper neck joints or muscles can cause referred pain to your head. Any of the following points suggest that your neck may be causing the headache:
A sustained slumped posture will (eventually) cause thoracic spinal rigidity with a tendency to compress the (anterior), thoracic cage (chest). In addition to pain in the thoracic spine and the ribs, pain can sometimes radiate to the "sternum" and on occasion even into the throat (with mild nausea). This anterior chest pain may mimic cardiac disease and is known as "Pseudo-angina-pectoris". Of course actual cardiac pathology (incl stress related true angina pectoris) must be ruled out. It is possible for both Pseudo and True Angina Pectoris to be present simultaneously. Appropriate manual therapy for (non cardiac related) anterior chest pain, can usually produce immediate and dramatic relief (physical as well as psychological). | |